Huntsville gazette., 1887-07-30
THE PRESIDENT ACCEPTS.

Another Urgent Invitation to the Presi-
dent to Visit st Louis Accepted, and 1T
Looks as if This One Might Stick--Mayor
| Francis Address and the Presidents Re-
ply.
WASHINGTON, July @.-The delegation
| from st. Louis, which arrived last night to
invite the President and Mrs. Cleveland to
that city, called by appointment at the
White House at II m. to-day. The dele
gates was ushered into the library, where
the President received them. Mayor Francis
of st. Louis Immediately stepped to front
and made the following address:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: 1t was my fortune sixty days
ago, accompanied by twenty five representa-
tive citizens Of St. Louis, to supplement and
earnestly indorse, in behalf OF the people OF
that city, an invitation previously extended to
you to atten the annual encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic, to be held in the
City OF ST. Louis, during the last week OF Sep
tember next. The success of that mission in
elioiting from you a favorable response
was highly gratifying to the people of
st. Louis and of Missouri The disappoint-
ment later, consequent upon your letter OF
declination, was deep and allprevailing, but
eoextensive with it sentiment OF sincere ap-
proval of the patriotic motives which had
prompted you to such action The citizens OF
st. Louis, irrespective of party, nationality or
race, IN mass meeting assembled the day after
your letters were received, with one voice en-
Enthusiastically resolved to extend to yourself
your estimable wife cordial invitation to visit
their city, during the first week OF October
next, and instructed their mayor, with a
committee Of fifty citizens, to convey
and deliver the same In person to
you. Assemblages Of like character
were promptly held In almost every county in
the State, ,indorsing and emphasizing the action
taken in ST. Louis. Delegates were appointed by
these meetings to proceed to the capital Of the
Nation and there to express to the chief execu-
tive in manner as effective as words and form
would permit, the warmth of the greeting
which awaits him from the people OF Missouri
in the metropolis Of the State.
We are here, therefore, in obedience to the
mandates OF our people, representing all sec
tions of Missouri, her commercial. manufactur-
ing and agricultural interests, and rejecting
the desire of every city, town and hamlet in
her borders, to urge you and Mrs. Cleveland to
favor us with your presence.
This invitation enanates from the people,
your sovereigns and ours, and not from any
organization civil or military, political or re-
Egious. 1t is the spontaneous outburst OF
community that never suffers it's reputation
for hospitality to be aspersed. 1t is a vigorous
and feeling protest from a generous host
against the absolute deolination of distin-
invited company.
The reasons why you should visit the West
are even stronger now than on the former oc-
casion, when your reply was favorable one,
whether viewed from our standpoint or your
own. Our appearance before you in largely in
creased numbers coming even as we do from
the most remote sections of the State, fur
nishes some indication OF the feeling prevailing
at our homes. The people of the West revere
the high office of Chief Magistrate Of the Ma
ton, and their loyalty and patriotism impel
them to honor him who fills that exalted posi-
tion. Especially is it so when the man who
fills it performs his duty with the wisdom, fear
lessness and patriotism which characterizes
your administration. No organization, how
ever strong, and no occurrence, however i'm
portant, will be required to add interest to the
occasion Of your presence.
The people of Missouri and of the West
will congregate in vast numbers to meet
and welcome you in the commercial centre
Of the Mississippi valley.
We have designated the first week in Octo-
Der as the time for your visit, because we
! thought that time would be most convenient
and agreeable for you; because 1t is the season
when our fall festivities are at their height,
when our trades pageant gives its annual dis
play; when the mysterious Yelled Prophet sur
rounded with oriental splendor makes his
visit; when our streets are brilliantly illumin-
ated by arches Of blazing light on scale OF
magn icence never approached; when our
Exposition and our Agricultural and Mechani-
cal Fair, each the greatest Of its kind on the
continent, are in progress and ecause, finally,
it is season when the sterling yoemanry OF
the land, the bulwark Of the Republic and the
greatest contributors to its wealth,
can with least detriment to their agricultural
interests assemble in our city to do you honor.
If, however, another time would be better
suited to your inclination or engagements, your
welcome would be none the less genuine.
The city of ST. Louis, the State Of Missouri
and the people OF the West, say to the Presi-
dent of the United States Honor us with
your presence and to Grover Cleveland the
honest, fearless man, who so ably fills that
high office, "come and be our guest"
! At the conclusion of the address Mayor
Francis presented an elaborately engraved
invitation to the President.
Mayor Francis remarks, which were
made off f-hand, were repeatedly interrupt
ed by applause, which was redoub)ed when
the address was formally presented to the
President with the terse remark that it was
from what they thought the greatest city
of the continent, to him whom they
thought the greatest President of the I'm
tied States. The President, also speaking
extempore, replied as follows:
Mr.. MAYOR AND GENTLEMEN-My reply to
4 your very complimentary and hearty address
shall be very brief and very agreeable. At the
time you did me the honor to invite me to your
city on the occasion OF your last visit felt,
quite contrary to my expectation, when first
met you that it was an invitation which ought
not to be decli ed. felt impressed at the mo-
ment that you had something there in ST. Louis
OF which you were deservedly proud; that you
had city and people and interests there which
it was only right and just you should earnestly
desire that the Chief Magistrate OF
the Nation should see and appre-
j ciate What has happened since has In
nowse hampered my desire to see these things,
and to become better acquainted with the hos
pitable and good peop e, whose good feeling and
kindness you manifest. 1t was not at all nee
! essary in order to convince me OF your good
faith and sincerity that SO many OF your good
people should at this most uncomfortable sea-
! son of the year come here, and yet you don't
know how much it pleases me to see you all.
NV desire to come to see you has grown with
! every day, and do not see how can do other
wise now than to accept your invitation"
| When the applause which greeted this
announcement had subsided, the President
reverting to his previous acceptance said:
seThe arrangement made before was one
which was entirely free from complications
and which presented no likelihood of clash
ing with any of my other arrangements.
4 I.% hnxy